5.7% Tax Increase For 2023 Proposed In Tredyffrin Township

TREDYFFRIN, PA —Tredyffrin Township's preliminary budget of $25.08 million calls for a 5.75% increase in real estate taxes.

The budget process is ongoing, with final approval set for Dec. 5.

The township covers 19.8 square miles and has a population of 29, 482.

The proposed increase amounts to an increase of $37.80 for the average homeowner, bringing the annual tax bill to $629, according to Joseph F. DiRocco, director of finance.

The tax increase would generate $540,500.

The 2023 proposed budget is $3.6 million higher than this year's budget.

Overall, the proposed spending plans allocates $11.7 million for police; $1.1 million for parks and recreation; $1.48 million for libraries; $1.05 million for planning and zoning; $280,000 for engineering and $2.79 million for administration.

New Fire Station

The primary increase in the 2023 budget is $3.15 million toward a project to replace the 93-year-old Berwyn Fire Co. station on Bridge Street, according to the preliminary budget proposal.

The proposed budget also calls for an increase in operational costs totalling $67,5oo for the Berwyn, Paoli and Radnor fire companies.

Overall, the proposed budget allocates $4.85 million for fire and EMS.

The township has also approved a $1.8 million purchase of a property at 1485 Valley Forge Road from Cradle of Liberty Boy Scouts of America for a substation to respond to calls in Chesterbrook, Glenhardie and Swedesford Road corridor.

During a public meeting reviewing the budget Monday night, Berwyn Assistant Fire Chief Eamon C. Brazunas thanked the board for getting the funding for the new building.

“I really appreciate that staff here in Tredyffrin and in Easttown had the courage to do this,” he said. “I really appreciate it because of the time I spent here, and that I am a resident of Tredyffrin.”

Brazunas spoke about future needs of the fire departments, including competitive wages for full and part-time firefighters and EMS.

He noted that new developments in the township will result in more use of fire services.

The assistant chief said another issue facing the fire companies is Recovery Centers of America, 235 West Lancaster Avenue, Easttown Township, requiring nearly daily visits by EMS.

“Sometimes we go there three or four times a day,” he said.

Brazunas said the pandemic has amplified the need for the drug and alcohol facility.

The EMS provides transportation from the recovery center to the hospitals.

“That facility is something that we need,” the assistant chief said. “They provide critical services. It has a major impact on us.”

However, the Brazunas said, the high call volume to the recovery center is detrimental to the primary responsibility to provide prompt service to the residents of the Tredyffrin and Easttown townships.

He said the collection rate is only 20% from the patients at the recovery center, resulting in six figure losses for services.

“It takes up a lot of time for us,” he said.

He said the three fire departments also provide services to senior centers regularly, which have limited funds for services.

The assistant chief also noted that volunteerism is down.

“We need to do things to encourage volunteerism,” he said.

Next Steps

The proposed budget is set for preliminary approval on Nov. 1.

Public hearings will also be scheduled in November with final approval on Dec. 5.

Supervisor David Miller, supervisor, said during the budget process that it would be nice to not have an increase, but costs are going up.

“We are working very hard to avoid an increase,” he said.

Murph Wysocki, supervisor, said the biggest impact in the budget is inflation and the cost of the new fire station.

“We have not cut back on the great services we have in Tredyffrin Township,” he said.

Carol Clarke, a resident, said on a call into the meeting that she would like to know more details on the plans to build a new fire house and other improvements.

“I am a strong proponent of a fire fee for our fire services,” she said.

Clarke was expecting to hear ideas for how the fire department would get more funds.

Julie Gosse, chair of the supervisors, said the new building is funded by Tredyffrin, Easttown, state grants and a fundraising campaign.